Screw holder and driver



C. W. BRONK SCREW HOLDER AND DRIVER April 2 2, 1930.

Filed May 25, 1928 7 BY Z J ORNE Patented Apr. 22, 1930 CHARLES W. BRONK, OF BINGHAMTON, .NEW YORK sonnw HOLDER AND 'nrtrvnn Application filed May 25,

surfaces; also to provide a screw driver with an attachment for holding the screw While it is being started in the wood or other sur face. I accomplish these purposes by a driver which can be operated with one hand, and

while in positions in which it is difficult to reach the right spot.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists of the following novel features of construction and arrangement of parts as are more particularly hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view of my device.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a detailed part of my device in cross section.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a part of my device.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a modified form of my device.

The same reference characters denote like parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings A represents a handle of any suitable construction, while B represents the driver ,rod or shank; this driver rod or shank is provided with the usual beveled end 2 for insertion into the slot of the ordinary screw.

As a further part of my device I have a sleeve 0, surrounding the driver rod and slidably mounted thereon, the sleeve C, which is composed of the curved halves 3, 3, joining together on the line Y, the upper end of 3 having the recess therein 4 and the upper end of 3 having a projecting tongue thereon adapted to enter the recess 4 as shown in Fig. 2, and the lower end having the sloping outer surface 9. The halves 3, 3 have also mounted therein at the base of the interior curve the fiat spring projections 6, 6, so positioned that, the expanding ends of said springs normally rest in use against the sides of the driver rod B. At the upper end of each half 3, 3 of the sleeve C there is a slight shoulder for- 1928. Serial No. 280,569.

mation 7, as shown 'in'Figs. 2 and 3. Surrounding the upper end of the'sleeve I may use a spiral or coil spring .2 which may engage the shoulder or flange 7. I

As a further part of my device I have slidably mounted'overthe halves 3, 3 the split spring collar or sleeve D as shown in Fig. 1, and which may have parallel spaced apart surface ribs 16 pressed out thereon. At the lower expanding ends of said halves 3, 3' I have the recess 15, bent therein as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4; at the lowerend of driver rod B, I have the blade 10,? adapted to enter the slot 11 in the screw head 12, of screw E, as shown in F ig. 1.

As a further part of my device in the formation of the halves, I provide in the expanding edges thereof the'recesses 13, shown in Fig. 1, which when the halves 33 are drawn together, form an opening an therethrough, as 5' shown in Fig. 1. From this description it may be seen that the operation of the driver is as follows :When a screw is to be inserted the handle A is grasped with the fingers, the collar D moved upward by the thumb and finger which grasp the same in the channel 14 thereon, the upward movement of the ferrule D. releasing the pressure against the halves 3, 3 and the ends of the flat springs 6, 6 pressing against the sides of the driver rod B, causes the lower ends of the halves 3, 3 to expand outwardly opening the halves 3, 3 and recesses 13, 13 and thru which the edges of the screw head 12 may pass until the screw is vertical and in place and is grasped by the-expanding of the halves 3, 3 with the slot 11 in position to be entered by the blade 10 of the driver rod B. As a modified construction in lieu'of the collar D I may use asplit ring 8 and in operation the ring 8 is moved upward towards handle A until it rests against the shoulder 7, 7 of the halves 3 3. The expanding of the outer ends of halves caused by the spring pressure of flat springs 6, 6 against driver rod B causes the V halves 3, 3 to open for the easy insertion of the screw and without the necessity of spreading the halves 3, 3 by turning of the beveled end 2 of the driver rod, as in other forms of construction, the screw head will enter through the side recess or through the expanding open ends of the jaws. By the moving downward again of spring collar D, the halves 3, 3 are again drawn together on line Y, and the screw E held infirm grasp be tween them, ready for insertion in the place desired and with blade 10 seated in slot 11 is easily turned to place by the action of one hand on the handle.

My device in operation will grasp a stove bolt or wood screw alternately as either can be used and my device will act in either case with the same efiect; also my device can be used on a straight screw driver or on a ratchet screw driver.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire Letters Patent is as follows 1. The combination with a screw driver having a handle and shank, of two longitudinally oppositely positioned jaws conforming to the rounded surface of the shank, flanges at the upper ends of the jaws, a spring surrounding the upper ends of the jaws and contacting with the flanges, grasping members at the lower ends of the jaws, leaf springs carried by each jaw member and having their free ends in engagement with the shank to normally separate the lower ends of the jaws and a split collar movable along the outside surfaces of the jaws to close the grasping ends of the jaws against the tension of the springs.

2. The combination with a screw driver having a handle and shank, of two longitudinally, oppositely positioned jaws conforming to the rounded surface of the shank, semi-circular flanges at the upper ends of the jaws, a tongue and groove connection between the jaws at the upper 'ends, a spring surrounding the upper end of the aws and contacting with the flanges to hold the tongue and groove in interfitting relation, grasping members at the lower end of the jaws for grasping the head of a screw, leaf springs carried by each jaw and having their free ends extending upwardly for engagement with the shank of the screw driver to normally separate the lower ends ofthe jaws, and a split member slidable over the outside surfaces of the jaws to close the grasping ends of the latter against the tension of the springs.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature;

CHARLES W. BRONK. 

